India-Pak WC semis was not fixed, insists Ajmal

India-Pak WC semis was not fixed, insists Ajmal

Claims made by a British journalist that the Indo-Pak 2011 cricket World Cup semi-final may have been fixed were dismissed by Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal, who said this was being done to spoil the upcoming series.

Ajmal, who played in that match in Mohali in March, described the claims as "useless" and said both the teams fought hard in that match.

"I think these allegations are being made now to just spoil our coming tour to India. There is no substance to the story.

"I played in the semi-final and I know how every player fought tooth and nail in it," he said reacting to a fresh claims by a sports-betting journalist that the match could have been fixed.

'It's been done to derail our series in India'

"But if there is any truth in that the match was fixed how come even after such a long time no one has been able to show any evidence. This issue is being raised again to derail our series in India," the off-spinner told the Duniya news channel.

India and Pakistan are set to resume bilateral cricket ties after a gap of five years with a three-match ODI series and two Twenty20s in December-January.

The journalist has written in yet to be launched book that he got a message from an Indian bookie, who predicted the trend and pattern of the match, which India won.

Image: Indian players celebrate after winning the matchPhotographs: Getty Images